Situated on the historic site of the former Rossiya factory in St Petersburg, office building Ferrum 1 (Block 16) by TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten is one of the first buildings in Russia to be constructed with a sculptural Corten steel façade. Corrosion-resistant and extremely durable, the characteristic rust-red patina and texture of the material give a striking and expressive appearance to the building. The name of the office building – Ferrum – is Latin for iron and references the material structuring the façade as well as the history of the former industrial history of the site.
Constructed in a geometric grid, the façade presents itself as a coherent, dynamic, organically flowing fabric of loosely woven threads. At the corners of the building, delicate structural glazing alternates with the sharp-edged folds of the Corten.
The building is crowned by a band of golden aluminium panels, whose sheen visually offsets the intense colouring of the main façade cladding. ‘Rust on the outside, gold on the inside is a central theme of the design which is continued to the interior where shiny gold lift portals alternate with metal surfaces in cold grey and coverings are made of printed glass.
The building's main entrance is marked by a large portal, and the central foyer features double-sided structural glass that fills this space with light and visually connects it to the surrounding park.
